Psychiatry International

Several studies worldwide have shown that adolescents have low levels of mental health literacy (MHL). This is a worrying situation, given the significant prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents and the role of MHL in identifying these problems early and seeking help. This study aims to characterize MHL in Portuguese adolescents according to sociodemographic variables. The participants were 608 adolescents from the 7th to 12th grade, who filled in questionnaires on sociodemographics, MHL, and positive MHL. Bivariate analysis and hierarchical logistic regression models were conducted. A high level of adequate beliefs was found to be more likely in girls and in those whose mothers had higher levels of education. High rates of knowledge about self-help strategies were related to older age, having a mother who had a high level of education, greater subjective socioeconomic status (SSES), and better self-perception of mental health (SPMH). Help-seeking/first-aid skills were predicted by higher SSES, and lower SPMH predicted high levels of knowledge about mental health problems. Different MHL dimensions were related to diverse sociodemographic variables, and SPMH played a key role in enhancing the models’ ability to explain variation in MHL—particularly in knowledge on self-help strategies. Those topics require further research. These results can be useful in the development of MHL programs tailored to the specific knowledge needs of different adolescent groups.

Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). However, the results have been inconclusive. This review aims to explore this association via the meta-analysis of existing studies. PubMed, Web of Knowledge, SCOPUS, and Embase databases were searched up to December 2023. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random or fixed effect models to explore the association between ART and ASD. A total of 20 records of cohort and case–control studies were analyzed and diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) published between 2013 and 2023. Children between the ages of 2–12 years were included in these studies via a census method. The results of the studies revealed a significant correlation between ART and ASD (RR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13–1.71, p = 0.006). Some subgroups revealed statistically significant relationships based on study location, design, and quality. The results suggest that using assisted reproductive technology elevates the susceptibility of children to develop ASD, but more large-scale and prospective studies are required to corroborate this conclusion, particularly in light of the divergent outcomes of some reviewed studies.

Introduction: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 that can negatively impact physical and mental health, often disrupting development. Numerous studies have shown associations between ACEs and the onset or severity of psychotic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACEs among patients with psychotic disorders and to examine an association between ACEs and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of psychosis. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the Center for Mental Health and the Psychiatric Clinic of the University Clinical Center Nis, from March to July 2025. The sample included adult patients of both sexes diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorders based on ICD-10 criteria. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), along with sociodemographic and clinical data from medical records, was used. Results: The sample included 60 patients, with a mean age of 36.7 years. The average ACE-Q score was 2.57 ± 1.98, with one-third of patients reporting high exposure (≥4 ACEs) to childhood adversity. Patients with high ACEs exposure (≥4 ACEs) differed significantly from those with low to moderate or no exposure (<4 ACEs) in terms of economic status, family history of psychiatric disorders, substance use, and treatment adherence. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, our results point to a potential link between childhood adversity and certain sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in patients with psychotic disorders. Integrating systematic assessments of trauma history into routine clinical practice may support the development of more effective treatment strategies.